(Ethan's POV)
The morning after the gala felt like a hangover, even though I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol. Claire's presence lingered in the air, a phantom scent of her perfume, a ghost of her laughter. I tried to bury myself in work, but it was useless. Every file, every email, every phone call was a distraction from the one thought that consumed me: Claire.
Liam, the ever-present thorn in my side, sauntered into my office, a grin plastered on his face. He was dressed in his usual casual attire, a stark contrast to my tailored suit.
"Morning, Scrooge," he said, plopping down in the chair opposite my desk. "You look like you haven't slept."
"I've been working," I retorted, my voice clipped.
"Yeah, working on replaying every moment you spent with Claire last night," he teased.
"Shut up, Liam," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
"Come on, man, lighten up," he said, his grin widening. "It's been years. You deserve to have a little fun."
"Fun isn't in my vocabulary," I said, my voice dry.
"That's your problem," he said, shaking his head. "You're so busy building your empire, you've forgotten how to live."
Just then, Jake and Noah strolled in, adding to the chaos. Jake was a smooth-talking lawyer, always impeccably dressed, while Noah, a brooding artist, was the quiet observer of our group. All three were confirmed bachelors, each with their own reasons for avoiding commitment.
"What's going on?" Jake asked, sensing the tension.
"We're discussing Ethan's love life," Liam said, his grin spreading. "Or lack thereof."
Noah raised an eyebrow, his gaze settling on me. "Claire, right? How's that going?"
"It's not going," I said, my voice tight. "She's pushing me away."
"She's scared, man," Jake said, leaning against my desk. "Can't say I blame her. You're not exactly Mr. Warm and Fuzzy."
"Hey! I resent that," Liam cut in, "Ethan can be fun, when he wants to be."
"When was the last time that happened?" Noah asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Look," I said, my patience wearing thin, "I don't need a lecture from you three. I'm handling this."
"Are you?" Noah asked, his gaze intense. "Because it looks like you're doing everything you can to sabotage yourself."
"He's right," Jake said. "You're acting like you're afraid of getting hurt again."
"I'm not afraid," I said, my voice firm.
"Prove it," Liam challenged, his eyes gleaming.
"Prove what?" I asked, my voice wary.
"Prove that you're not still hung up on her," he said, his grin mischievous.
"How?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"We make a bet," Jake said, his eyes twinkling. "A bet that you can't resist Claire."
"A bet?" I repeated, my voice incredulous.
"Yeah," Noah said, his voice quiet but firm. "A bet that you're still as in love with her as you were ten years ago."
"And what do I get if I win?" I asked, my skepticism evident.
"Bragging rights," Liam said. "And the satisfaction of proving that you're not as cold as you pretend to be."
"And what do I have to do?" I asked, my interest growing.
"You have to spend time with her," Jake said. "Go on dates, get to know her again. And if you can do it without falling head over heels, you win."
"And if I lose?" I asked.
"You have to admit that you're still in love with her," Noah said, his gaze intense. "And you have to tell her."
I hesitated. It was a ridiculous proposition, a childish game. But something about it intrigued me. It was a chance to prove them wrong, to prove to myself that I wasn't afraid of my feelings.
"Fine," I said, my voice firm. "I'm in."
"Great," Liam said, clapping his hands together. "Let the games begin."
(Claire's POV)
The day after the gala was a blur of emotions. I couldn't shake the memory of Ethan, his eyes searching mine, his voice pleading with me to stay. I'd pushed him away, but it felt like I was pushing myself away too.
My phone rang, breaking through my reverie. It was a text from Liam.
Liam: Coffee? My treat.
I hesitated. Liam was Ethan's best friend, his confidant, his partner in crime. Seeing him meant facing the reality of my complicated feelings for Ethan.
But I couldn't avoid them forever.
Me: Okay. Where and when?
We met at a small café downtown, the aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air. Liam was his usual charming self, his smile warm and inviting.
"So," he said, taking a sip of his coffee, "how are you and Ethan doing?"
"We're not 'doing' anything," I said, my voice tight. "We're just friends."
"Friends?" he raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you call it? Because it looked like there was a lot more than friendship going on last night."
"There's history," I said, my voice low. "But that's all."
"History that's still very much alive," he said, his eyes twinkling.
I sighed. "Liam, please. Don't do this."
"Do what?" he asked, his voice innocent. "Just stating the obvious."
"The obvious is that Ethan and I are adults now," I said. "We have different lives, different responsibilities."
"And different feelings?" he asked, his voice soft.
I looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
"Look, Claire," he said, his voice serious now, "I know you're scared. But you can't keep running from your feelings. You and Ethan have something special, something rare. Don't let it slip away."
"It's not that simple," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
"It is if you let it be," he said. "Give him a chance, Claire. Give yourself a chance."
I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say.
"He's still in love with you, you know," Liam said, his voice soft. "He never stopped."
My heart skipped a beat. Was it true? Had Ethan really never stopped loving me?
"He's changed," I said, my voice hesitant. "We've both changed."
"People change, Claire," he said. "But feelings don't. Not real feelings."
He reached across the table and took my hand in his. His touch was warm and comforting, like a brother's.
"Just think about it," he said. "Give him a chance. Give yourself a chance."
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. I knew Liam was right. I couldn't keep running from my feelings. But I was still afraid.
As I left the café, I couldn't shake Liam's words from my mind. He'd planted a seed of doubt, a flicker of hope, in the barren landscape of my heart. And I knew, deep down, that I couldn't ignore it.
The bet was on, though I didn't know it. And I was about to find out how hard it was to resist Ethan Carter, when he was determined to win.